If I understand this correctly:
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Face masks are decent if the wearer is sick, but are not effective if the wearer is around sick people
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Respirators are effective if the wearer is sick as well as if the wearer is around sick people
I think this was public knowledge since around 2020.
Masks are better than nothing if the wearer is sick, but respirators are far superior. Disposable N95 and FFP2 “masks” are respirators.
Thanks for the clarification, I was worried for a second. Have been wearing FFP2/FFP3 masks while shopping etc. diligently since the pandemic.
I like to use this helpful guide.
Yeah, I’m pretty sure the reason paper/cloth masks were what we settled on were
- Respirators are relatively expensive to manufacture and were in short supply
- The goal was to slow the spread to prevent overwhelming hospital systems and having everyone wear masks was better than doing nothing
I worry that people will read this headline and take it as evidence that wearing masks was useless.
They will, but only the ones who already believed that. Doubt there’s going to be a net change in either direction in our lifetime.
What frustrates me is that the logic is sound and, to me, very obvious. I try not to simply dismiss those I disagree with as stupid but it has been quite difficult these past few years.
I’m really worried people will decide it’s pointless to wear a mask when they’re sick. The best thing to come out of covid is that people with colds started wearing masks when they have to do stuff anyways
Makes sense. Doctors and nurses use face masks to protect the patient, not themselves. Respirators then again are used to protect the person wearing it from airborne particles. So in other words: masks do what they’re intented for.
Something like a surgical mask can help a bit even if other unmasked sick people are around (though it’s pretty minimal, less than 10% IIRC), but nowhere near as much as a proper respirator. It’s something like 25%-40% more effective vs. without one, and it goes up from there to 90%+ if everyone is wearing one and they are properly fitted. Some respirators don’t protect anyone from a sick wearer (like painter’s masks with cartridges and an unfiltered exhaust) but others do (like N95s/FFP2s). For the purpose of this article, “respirator” refers to stuff like n95s though.
People are still confused about it. Commonly I will see signs saying “N95 Required” but everyone there is wearing a cloth mask.
Not trying to sell 3M but this is a good guide: https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/personal-health-care-us/products/face-coverings-101/
People are still confused about it.
Yes, I did originally think of describing it as “common knowledge” but opted against that phrasing.
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What about ICE? Should they wear plague beak filled with shit or not?
Until a separate notice they should.
I think gas masks seem appropriate
pick up that can, citizen.
Presumably those respirators are also inadequate if they’re incorrectly sized or if the wearer has facial hair.
or if the wearer has facial hair.
Yeah. Here the only solution is to either shave or invest in a PAPR (Powered Air-Purifying Respirator) that are bulky and priced in the thousands.
They’re quite comfortable to wear compared to a non-powered one but you’ll look like an astronaut walking into a supermarket wearing one.
There was an open petition for the WHO to change their guidance regarding respirators, good to see that it has gotten into the news!
Added benefit for protesters!
